Free Film Screening + Panel
Join Story Money Impact for a special screening of Who the Hell Is Nigel? — a short
documentary that takes you behind the scenes of BC’s COVID-19 briefings, where Deaf ASL
interpreter Nigel Howard unexpectedly captured public attention. His dynamic style highlights
broader issues of underrepresentation in the Deaf community.
With panelists Ladan Sahraei & Jasper Vaillant
Moderated by Amy Amantea
Date: Friday, October 3, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Progress Lab 1422 · 1422 William Street, Vancouver
Reserve your free tickets: Story Money Impact Presents FREE Screening of Who the Hell Is Nigel?
Story Money Impact presents a screening of the documentary Who the Hell Is Nigel?, plus a panel discussion about disability justice and how it intersects with filmmaking.
ABOUT THE FILM:
During the BC COVID-19 news briefings, an unwitting hero is made of Nigel Howard, a Deaf ASL interpreter who became an overnight sensation due to his dynamic interpretation style. Through his rise to fame, the underrepresentation of the Deaf community becomes glaringly evident.
Who the Hell Is Nigel? is a Deaf-friendly film that spotlights the needs of the Deaf community and models how to fully include them. The film uses split screens to prioritize ASL over captioning, and interpreters’ facial expressions are visible to communicate emotional tone. These are just some of the small ways to prioritize the full inclusion and participation of Deaf people in every facet of society and its joys.
Panelist Bios:
Ladan Sahraei
Ladan Sahraei is a pioneering Iranian-Canadian Deaf female filmmaker. As the first Deaf filmmaker in Iran, she has crafted numerous short films and directed two feature documentaries in Canada. Ladan’s exceptional work has garnered awards and recognition. With a deep passion for filmmaking, she actively supports the visual and performing arts, painting, and disability representation in film. Ladan’s love for creating films and documentaries is boundless. She revels in globetrotting, exploring diverse cultures, and connecting with people from around the world.
Jasper Vaillant
Jasper Vaillant is a passionate filmmaker, writer, and director dedicated to authentic storytelling that amplifies underrepresented voices. As a proud member of the disabled community, Jasper is deeply committed to fostering meaningful disabled representation on screen—an aspect of storytelling that is profoundly personal to him. With a strong focus on character-driven narratives, Jasper brings fresh perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media, aiming to challenge stereotypes and push the boundaries of inclusive storytelling. He believes in the power of film to foster empathy, create social change, and celebrate the richness of human experience in all its forms.
Moderator Bio:
Amy Amantea (she/her)
Amy Amantea identifies as a white settler living on the traditional and stolen lands of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples. Living with multiple intersections of disability—including blindness, neurodiversity, chronic pain, and chronic illness—Amy has come to view her sight loss as a “gift” that shapes her artistic and professional practice. For almost two decades, Amy has worked at the intersection of arts, accessibility, and systemic change, championing Disability Justice and the principle of “nothing about us without us.”
At present, Amy is the Associate Director of VocalEye Descriptive Arts Society, Accessibility Coordinator at the Arts Club Theatre Company, and an artist currently touring her theatre show, Through My Lens, co-written and directed by James Long.
Her work has connected her with artists and organizations locally and internationally, advocating and advancing authentic representation in the arts and supporting the creation of ground-up approaches to creative access. In recognition of her leadership, advocacy, and innovation, Amy has received the CNIB Century of Change Award (2018), the News 1130 Unsung Hero Award (2018), and the Canadian Council of the Blind Book of Honour Award (2019).
Amy is delighted to have been invited to facilitate the panel discussion on Disability Justice following the screening of Who the Hell Is Nigel?.
